Parcel postage calculating



De- 1, l942- w. J. PEARsoN n-:TAL 2,303,793

PARCEL POSTAGE' CALCULATING', PRINTING AND METERING MACHINE' Original Filed May 16, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet l 229 .zzf

Dec. 1, 1,942. w. J. PEARsoN ETJAL 2,303,793

'PARCEL POSTAGE CLCULATING, PRINTINGv AND MTRING MACHINE Original Filed May 16, 1931 A6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 1, ,71942.

Original Filed May 16, 1931 w. J. 'PEARsoN ET Ax.

ARCEL POSTAGE CALCULATING, PRINTXNG AND-METERING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 De- 1, 1942- w. J. PEARsoN Erm. 12,303,793

PARCEL POSTAGE CLCULATING,` PRINTING AND METERING MACHINE 6. Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed May 16, 1931 De 1, '1942- w. JA. PEARsoN ETAL 2,303,793

PARCEL POST'GE CALCULATING, PRINTENG AND METERING MACHINE Original' Filed May 16, 1931A 6 Sheets-sheet 5 lff ; Dec. 1, 1942. w. J. PEARsoN erm. 2,303,793

PARCEL POSTAGE CALCULATIG, PRINTING -AND METERING MACHINE Original Filed May 16, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet `6 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 PARCEL POSTAGE' LCALCULATING, PRINT- ING, AND* REETERING MACHINE @riginal applications May 16, 1931, Serial No. 537,975, and April 3, 1937, Serial No. 134,872.

Divided and this ap rial No. 266,900

4 Claims.

This invention relates to postage metering machines for printing parcel postage stamps and more particularly to a mechanism lfor guarding printing type and locking unit when the latter is removed from the machine. This application is a division of our previous applications, Serial No. 537,975, led May 16, 193i, and Serial No. 134,872, led April 3, 1937, both of which relate to :parcel post metering and printing machines.

In the postal system of the United States, great quantities of mail matter are handled daily, the postage on all of which was until recent years paid by purchase of engraved stamps which were applied to the letters or packages to be mailed and then cancelled by the post ofce at the point of origin. A few years ago a new method of selling postage for use on letters was developed in which method the mailer purchases or leases from the manufacturer, a machine which is authorized for use by the Post Otlice Department, and which is adapted to .print stamps directly on envelopes, the amount of postage thus printed being registered in the machine by mechanism which stops and locks the machine when a prepaid quantity is exhausted. When thus locked, each machine, or the register thereof, as the case may be, must be taken to the post oice and reset for printing another quantity of postage which is paid :for at the time by the mailer.

In parcel post metering machines developed to date, it has been necessary to return the entire machine to the post omce to have it reset after a given purchase of postage has become exhausted. The printing and metering unit, being of relatively small bulk and weight, is easily remov able from the machine so that the purchase of further postage :from the post office may be accomplished by presentation of this unit to the postal authorities for resetting. llhe printing and metering unit has novel means whereby it is automatically locked against being tampered with when removed from the machine.

It is an object of our invention to provide novel means for guarding the printing and serial type from fraudulent use when the meter is removed from the machine.

It is a further object of our invention to mount the guarding means coaxially with the type of the unit.

An additional object is to provide means for locking the unit to the base when it is positioned in the machine.

A still further object is to remove the shield from type guarding position when the unit is locked in position in the machine.

plication April 8, 1939, Se-

Various other objects and advantages will :be apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this disclosure and which illustrate a preferred form of embodiment of the invention.

The manner oi accomplishing the foregoing objects, as well as further objects and advantages, Will be made manifest in the following description, together with'the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isl a longitudinal `cross sectional View of a parcel postage calculating, printing and registering machine. Q

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional View or" the printing and registering unit.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View illustrating the means for guarding the printing press of our invention against fraudulent use, such means being incorporated in the machine as shown in the right hand portion of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional dctail view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3, illustrating the serial number of our invention.

Figure 6 is a Vertical sectional View taken on the line 6 5 of Figure 2, illustrating certain control features associated with the removable printing and registering unit of our invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspectiveview illustrating the manner of mounting and locking the removable printing and registering unit in place.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross sectional View of the parcel postage calculating, Iprinting andv metering machine showing the relative positioning of the printing and metering unit.

In the present disclosure, only enough of the parcel post machine has' been shown to indicate the association of the invention with rthis machine. The printing and metering unit 55 is mounted on a supporting frame 232 secured to a base plate 2S! snugly received in a shallow recess 260 in the upper surface of the base iii of the machine tt. The frame Eii includes the standards 283 and 284i connected together by spacer bars 255, 25d and itl (Figures 6 and 7). In the bars 265 and Zit are uniformly spaced pairs of annular grooves 268; in the bar 2B? are a pair of annular grooves 2&59 which are spaced apart a shorter distance than the grooves 258 (see Figure 6). Y

The standards 263 and 254 are provided with pairs of bearings 2li), 2l! and 2l? (see Figures l and 8), the purpose of which will be made evident hereafter. Y

Provided in the deck |16 of the housing |1| is an opening 215 through which the removable printing and metering unit 65 is adapted to be lowered so as to rest upon the supporting frame 262.

The removable printing and metering unit 65 has a casing 216 comprising side plates 211 and 218 connected together and rigidly spaced by rods 219, 288 and 28| (Figure 2). The side plates 211 and 218 have their lower portions 282 and 283 offset inwardly as clearly shown in Figures2and3.

The side plates 211 and 218 are provided with pairs of jaws 285, 286 and 281, the latter pair being formed on the lower side plate portions 282 and 283. When the unit 65 is loweredinto its proper position cn its supporting frame 262, the pairs of jaws 285 and 286 extend into the grooves 268 in the cross bars 265 and 266 as shown in Figure 2, while the jaws 281 extend into the grooves 269 in the bar 261.

The casing 216 has a cover plate 298 secured in any desired manner on the upper edges of the side plates 211 and 218. The cover plate 288 is provided with lugs 28| in which is mounted a bail 262 for handling the unit 65. This plate has a window 283, preferably covered with glass to exclude dust from the unit and yet permit observation of the ascending register 18 of the unit. Hingedly mounted in a suitable opening in the cover plate 298 is a door 284 having a sunken window 295 preferably covered with glass to exclude dirt from the unit but permit observation ofthe descending register 11. Mounted in the door 284'adjacent its free edge is a key lock 283 having a swingable sealing plate 298 for sealing the lock.

A further element of the casing 216 is a sheet metal member 384 which is bent to conform to the edges of the side plates 211 and 2'58 and is permanently secured to these edges so as to form a front wall 385, a bottom wall 386 and a rear wall 381. The sheet metal member 384 is formed as shown in Figure 2 to leave the jaws 285, 286 and 261 exposed. The frontwall 385 has six vertical slots 3|8 formed therein, the rear wall 381 has two slots 3|| formed therein, and the bottom wall 386 has an opening SI2 formed therein, the purpose of these openings being made evident hereinafter.

A serial number printer is also illustrated (Figures 3 and 5), and includes three printing wheels 488, 48| and 482, mounted on the printing mechanism shaft 328 between the wing 3|8 of the block 3|5 and the printing wheel 338 of the computer responsive printing mechanism 16. This mechanism is adapted to be guarded at the time the printing type is concealed, as will be explained later in more detail.

The mechanism for guarding the printing type and locking unit when the latter is removed from the machine is generally indicated at 6|. This mechanism (best shown in Figures 2, 3, 5, 6, '1 and 8) includes a key lock 538 mounted in the side plate 218 of the unit 65, and a gear 53| which is locked against rotation excepting when a key 532 (Figure 6) is inserted into the lock,

whereupon rotation of the key is adapted to turn the gear.

The key 532 is secured upon the end of a rod 533 having a head 534, and is supported in a sleeve 535 mounted in a frame 536 which is secured to an extension 531 of the standard 264. Disposed between the frame 536 and the head 534 is a spring 548 which holds the key 532 normally retracted in a forward extension 54| of the sleeve 535. When the unit 65 is properly placed in the machine 68, the key is disposed opposite the lock 538 so that the head 534 may be engaged manually to insert the key 532 in the lock and rotate the gear 53|. Journalled at its opposite ends in the unit side plates 211 and 218 is a rocker shaft 545 having rockers 546 rigidly secured thereto; these rockers are provided with locking lugs 541 which, when the shaft 545 is rotated, extend outwardly through the openings 3|| in the wall 381 of the unit 65 to a position (shown in full lines in Figure 2 and in broken lines in Figure 4) just beneath the spacer bar 266 so as to effectively retain the unit 65 in the machine 68.

Pivotally mounted on a standard 548 on the plate 218 is a gear 558 which meshes with the gear 53| and has an arm 55| which is pivotally connected by a link 552 to one of the rockers 546. The rockers 546 are connected by a bar 553 which has links 554 and 555 pivotally mounted thereon.

Disposed in the lower part of the unit 65 adjacent the opening 3|2 in the lower wall 386 thereof, is a type guard 568 including an .arcuate face plate 56| and guard end walls 562 and 563, these walls being pivoted on the shaftA 328 just within the wings 3|1 and 3|8 of the printing mounting block 3|5. Extending upwardly from the guard end wall 562 is an arm 566 which is pivotally connected to the lower end of the link 555.

Extending inwardly from the side plate 218 beneath the shaft 438 is a horizontal stud 561 (Figures 3 and 4) which is supported at its inner end by a vertical standard 568 and on which is pivotally mounted a locking rocker 569 disposed alongside a cam H. The lower end of the rocker 568 is pivotally connected with the link 554. On a face of the cam H, in the same plane as the rocker 569, is a shoulder 518.

In the wall |14 is a removable door 51|. At the time that the unit 65 is inserted in the machine, the operator may put his hand through the door opening, grasp the key rod head v534, push the key 532 into the lock 538, and by rotating the head 534, turn the gear 53| (Figure 6).

In the normal position of the mechanism 8| when the unit 65 is out of the machine 68 (shown in full lines in Figure 4), the rockers 546 are swung so that the lugs 541 are retracted;V the guard 568 is swung downwardly through the opening 3|2 to completely guard the type 322 and 483 from fraudulent use; and the locking rocker 569 is swung into the path of the shoulder 518 on the operating cam H so as to prevent rotation of the shaft 46| in the direction of the arrow 465. With the mechanism 8| .thus disposed, fraudulent use or operation of the unit 65 in any manner is impossible. When vthe key v532 is inserted in the lock 538 and the gear 53| is rotated, however, the parts of the kmechanism 8| are swung to the broken line position in Figure 4 Vor the full line position inv Figure 2, in which position the lugs 541 come up beneath the spacer bar 266 so as to retain the unit 65 in the machine 68; at the same time the guard 568 is swung away from the front of the printing type and the rocker 569 is swung out of the path of the shoulder 518, thus freeing the shaft 46| to permit its rotation.

It is thus seen that the unit 65 -is free to operate only when it is positively retained inthe machine 68 by the locking lugs 541.

While we have shown and described bait, a

single embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications might be made in this Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

l. A postage metering device having a base portion, a detachable meter and a printing device, a casing enclosing the printing device, said casing having an opening to expose said printing device to permit printing when said casing is attached to said base, a shield attached to the casing movable to close said opening, means for locking the casing to said base, means for releasing the locking means from effect on the meter casing to enable removal thereof, manually operable locking means to lock said casing at will to said base portion, and means operated by said releasing means to move said shield to cover said opening When said casing is unlocked from said base portion.

2. A postage metering device having a base portion, a detachable meter and printing device, a casing enclosing the printing device, said casing having an opening to expose the type Wheels of said printing device to permit printing when said casing is attached to said base, an arcuate shield pivotally supported coaxially with said type Wheels to close said opening, means for locking the casing to said base, means for releasing the locking means from eiect on the meter casing to enable removal thereof, manual- 1y operable locking means to lock said casing at Will to said base portion, and means operated by said releasing means to move said shield to cover said opening when said casing is unlocked from af' vice, a casing enclosing the printing device, said casing having an opening to expose said printing device to permit printing when said casing is attached to said base, a shield attached to the casing movable to close said opening, means for locking the casing to said base including a hook and a link connected thereto to operate the mechanical locking means, means for releasing the locking means from effect on the meter casing to enable removal thereof, manually operable locking means to lock said casing atvvill to said base portion, and means operated by said releasing means to move said shield to cover said opening when said casing is unlocked from said base portion.

4. A postage metering device having a base portion, a detachable meter and printing device, a casing enclosing the printing device, said casing having an opening to expose the type Wheels of said printing device to permit printing when said casing is attached to said base, an arcuate shield pivotally supported coaxially with said type Wheels to close said opening, means for locking the casing to said base including a hook and a link connected thereto to operate the mechanica] locking means, means for releasing the locking means from eiect on the meter casing to enable removal thereof, manually operable locking means to lock said casing at will to said base portion, and means operated by said releasing means to move said shield to cover said opening When said casing is unlocked from said base portion.

WILLIAM J. PEARSON. WILLIAM J. PEARSON, Special Administrator of the Estate of Thomas I.

Brown, deceased. 

